air conditioning, a strange problem.
Discussion
Has anyone else had this problem with the air conditioning, and if so how did you fix it?
It seems that the unit is getting so cold that it’s condensing water on the outside whenever the footwell is trying to get hot. It’s sort of an ‘ice cold in Alex’ effect. We are sure it’s not leaking from within the unit. It was and we have cured that and ensured the drain pipe is running well. This causes ice cold water to drip onto the passenger’s feet from behind the glovebox.
The A/C wasn’t working when I bought the car and I only recently had an A/C specialist sort it. They had to put a new compressor in and I don’t think it was an exact match with the old one. It may be that this one is too efficient, but I would rather keep it and sort the condensation than buy another compressor.
The wife has asked I don’t fix this as she quite likes it, but I worry about the electrics.
I keep hearing that the Griff A/C isn’t much good, but I am getting a patch of condensation on the outside of the windscreen corresponding to each demister vent. When the outside temperature is low, say about 10C, the patches are starting to freeze.
Is this normal? My daily driver doesn’t do this, but I suppose the climate control is regulating it.
Do I need to insulate the A/C bits, or try and stop heat getting into the footwell and causing a temperature differential?
Not having been under to see, is there heat shielding for the exhausts? Anyone tried this?
link
Fester
It seems that the unit is getting so cold that it’s condensing water on the outside whenever the footwell is trying to get hot. It’s sort of an ‘ice cold in Alex’ effect. We are sure it’s not leaking from within the unit. It was and we have cured that and ensured the drain pipe is running well. This causes ice cold water to drip onto the passenger’s feet from behind the glovebox.
The A/C wasn’t working when I bought the car and I only recently had an A/C specialist sort it. They had to put a new compressor in and I don’t think it was an exact match with the old one. It may be that this one is too efficient, but I would rather keep it and sort the condensation than buy another compressor.
The wife has asked I don’t fix this as she quite likes it, but I worry about the electrics.
I keep hearing that the Griff A/C isn’t much good, but I am getting a patch of condensation on the outside of the windscreen corresponding to each demister vent. When the outside temperature is low, say about 10C, the patches are starting to freeze.
Is this normal? My daily driver doesn’t do this, but I suppose the climate control is regulating it.
Do I need to insulate the A/C bits, or try and stop heat getting into the footwell and causing a temperature differential?
Not having been under to see, is there heat shielding for the exhausts? Anyone tried this?
link
Fester
Hi,
I've got air con and I've been tying to figure how the system logic works in the Griffith. I think your problem could be the thermostatic expansion valve. It controls the amount of refrigernent entering the evaporator, the valve is controlled via a wet bulb in the evaporator at the end of a capillary tube off the expansion valve. If the bulb has been dislodge it senses warmer temps than actual and thus the valve allows more refrigerent than need into the evaporator. The valve could have also just failed. Also when system pressure becomes too high I think the compressor is supossed to switch off and/or the cooling fans come on until the pressure drops - it could potentially be a problem there. Do your fans and/or compressor kick in and out while at idle with air con on?
Ozstyle
I've got air con and I've been tying to figure how the system logic works in the Griffith. I think your problem could be the thermostatic expansion valve. It controls the amount of refrigernent entering the evaporator, the valve is controlled via a wet bulb in the evaporator at the end of a capillary tube off the expansion valve. If the bulb has been dislodge it senses warmer temps than actual and thus the valve allows more refrigerent than need into the evaporator. The valve could have also just failed. Also when system pressure becomes too high I think the compressor is supossed to switch off and/or the cooling fans come on until the pressure drops - it could potentially be a problem there. Do your fans and/or compressor kick in and out while at idle with air con on?
Ozstyle
Uncle Fester said:
Has anyone else had this problem with the air conditioning, and if so how did you fix it?
It seems that the unit is getting so cold that it’s condensing water on the outside whenever the footwell is trying to get hot. It’s sort of an ‘ice cold in Alex’ effect. We are sure it’s not leaking from within the unit. It was and we have cured that and ensured the drain pipe is running well. This causes ice cold water to drip onto the passenger’s feet from behind the glovebox.
The A/C wasn’t working when I bought the car and I only recently had an A/C specialist sort it. They had to put a new compressor in and I don’t think it was an exact match with the old one. It may be that this one is too efficient, but I would rather keep it and sort the condensation than buy another compressor.
The wife has asked I don’t fix this as she quite likes it, but I worry about the electrics.
I keep hearing that the Griff A/C isn’t much good, but I am getting a patch of condensation on the outside of the windscreen corresponding to each demister vent. When the outside temperature is low, say about 10C, the patches are starting to freeze.
Is this normal? My daily driver doesn’t do this, but I suppose the climate control is regulating it.
Do I need to insulate the A/C bits, or try and stop heat getting into the footwell and causing a temperature differential?
Not having been under to see, is there heat shielding for the exhausts? Anyone tried this?
link
Fester
It seems that the unit is getting so cold that it’s condensing water on the outside whenever the footwell is trying to get hot. It’s sort of an ‘ice cold in Alex’ effect. We are sure it’s not leaking from within the unit. It was and we have cured that and ensured the drain pipe is running well. This causes ice cold water to drip onto the passenger’s feet from behind the glovebox.
The A/C wasn’t working when I bought the car and I only recently had an A/C specialist sort it. They had to put a new compressor in and I don’t think it was an exact match with the old one. It may be that this one is too efficient, but I would rather keep it and sort the condensation than buy another compressor.
The wife has asked I don’t fix this as she quite likes it, but I worry about the electrics.
I keep hearing that the Griff A/C isn’t much good, but I am getting a patch of condensation on the outside of the windscreen corresponding to each demister vent. When the outside temperature is low, say about 10C, the patches are starting to freeze.
Is this normal? My daily driver doesn’t do this, but I suppose the climate control is regulating it.
Do I need to insulate the A/C bits, or try and stop heat getting into the footwell and causing a temperature differential?
Not having been under to see, is there heat shielding for the exhausts? Anyone tried this?
link
Fester
I should be able to explain this as I am an A/C engineer and I do have a Griff, but without A/C!I will try to explain as best as I can without getting too technical!
The condensation you are experiencing on the windscreen is normal, cold air condensing on a warm screen produces condensation and consequently turns to ice after sub zero air being blown at it.
Unfortunately, I do not know the routing of the refrigerant pipe work behind the dash and without seeing it, it`s hard to say, but it could be one of two problems. You mention "ice cold water dripping", this is more than likely a blocked condensate drain that is causing the drip tray to overflow.
If this is not the case, then it could be an uninsulated suction line "sweating" that is dripping cold water. The suction line is the "return pipe" from the evaporater back to the compressor. When refrigerant leaves the evaporator, depending on refrigerant charge, liquid refrigerant can be still boiling off and evaporating to a gas in the sucrion line at a very cold temperature. Check that the suction line is insulated throughout or at least to a point where it is not sweating.
On the information you have described these are the most likely causes. However, there are other faults that may be related to your problem. Let us know if the leak persists with a description of operating times and approx ambient temperatures ect.
Good luck,
Adrian.
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